Ironman70.3 Wilmington | My First Ever Ironman 70.3 | A Comprehensive Race Recap

What’s up, everyone! I’m excited to share a full recap of my first IRONMAN 70.3 in Wilmington, North Carolina, which took place on October 19, 2024.

Let’s start with the weather—it was perfect! The day started at 51°F and reached a high of 74°F, with clear skies. I got more sleep than expected the night before, going to bed around 8 p.m. and waking up at 3:30 a.m. for a pre-race breakfast of chicken alfredo and electrolytes drink, aiming to top off my glycogen stores.

Race morning was a bit chaotic with traffic as everyone tried to catch the shuttle to the swim start, which was only accessible to athletes. A friend, Jamie, who was volunteering, managed to spot and record me entering the water. I seeded myself with the last group due to swimming being my weakest discipline, and I had to wait about an hour before my wave went off. During that time, I made some new friends and we cheered each other on.

The 1.2 mile swim was challenging. I hadn’t practiced sighting, and the sun was directly in my face, making it hard to navigate. My goggles fogged up and all under is sunlight shimmering on the water surface. Since I can only breathe to my right, directly at the sun, I have no choice but to endure. To make things worse, I cramped up badly. At one point, I had to flag down a lifeguard on a paddle boat to help. I held onto the paddle boat for about 5 seconds to stretch out my calves. I knew if I held on any longer I may have quit. The thought of quitting crossed my mind, but I pushed through. Despite everything, I finished the swim in about 41 minutes, well within the cutoff, thanks to the current.

Transitioning to the bike, my legs were already shot, but I took my time to slow down and focus on finishing. Despite being inexperienced on the road (most of my training was indoors), the bike leg was an absolute highlight. My bike, a Cervélo P2, felt smooth and fast, and I averaged 18 mph over the 56 miles, finishing in 3 hours and 13 minutes. Aside from a minor chain mishap, everything went great. The crowd and family support on the course made it even more special.

Starting the run, I immediately felt the impact of burning through my glycogen stores. My legs were heavy, and I was mentally exhausted. But I carried a bottle of nutrition with me, sipping at regular intervals and focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Around mile 12, a fellow athlete, Jim—who is 69 years old—encouraged me, and we ran the last mile together. His support gave me the final push I needed.

Crossing the finish line was pure euphoria. The crowd, the energy, and seeing my family there made it all worth it. Hearing my name announced as I ran down the red carpet felt surreal. I kissed my wife, high-fived my brother, and hugged my family, marking an unforgettable moment. I am officially a HALF IRONMAN!

Thanks for watching and supporting me on this journey—stay tuned for more content! #IM703 #ironmantri #IM703NC